Today, that is exactly what I plan to do. When looking back on the first entry, it is somewhat difficult to find realistic ways to improve it. The original Super Mario Odyssey is a near-perfect video game that all ages can sit through and thoroughly enjoy. That said, I have been a Nintendo fan all my life and hold them to a different standard.

As amazing as the first game is, there are some changes and additions that could be implemented in the sequel that could take it to an entirely different level (at least in my mind).

Addition: Old and Familiar Kingdoms

What made the first entry so intriguing was the wide variety of kingdoms that you could explore. Typically, this is what gives the 3D Mario games their appeal and Odyssey was no different. However, the size and scope of the kingdoms made each one feel incredibly unique and special in their own way.

Yet, as much as I adore most of the kingdoms (such as Cascade Kingdom, Sand Kingdom, Wooded Kingdom, and Metro Kingdom) I still miss the familiarity of some of the classic landscapes that you could explore in games past. For the sequel, I would like a bit of nostalgia, in other words.

As an example, as much as I love Bowser’s Kingdom in the first game, I was still expecting a more traditional style Bowser’s Castle to traverse around in. Imagine what could be done to Bowser’s Castle with the game’s playstyle? Even old locations making a return such as Bob-omb Battlefield and Deep Dark Galaxy would be awesome to see.

Change: The Difficulty Level

This one may end up being a bit controversial and maybe I am alone, but I did feel that the first time I played Super Mario Odyssey it was too easy to beat. Nintendo likes to attract its main games to wider audiences so this makes sense. Casual gamers can pick the game up and rather easily advance through it while the hardcore fan base can try to collect every Power Moon in the game.

Without question, I am of the latter half of Mario fans but let’s be honest, there are only a few moons that really test your true skill in the entire game. Thankfully, they are all (for the most part) a joy to collect and you do feel immersed the entire time. Yet, that old-school fan in me wouldn’t mind a more difficult experience overall. Even giving the player an option for a harder mode (ala The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) could be a suitable option for Nintendo to go with.

Addition: Boo!

The most frustrating omission from the first game was Boo. And, no, do not insult me and say that his cameo at Bowser’s Kingdom (Peach is wearing a headpiece with Boo on it) counted. Given the history of Ghost Houses and Boo in previous installments, I was literally waiting for a haunted kingdom the entire time during my first playthrough.

Nintendo even trolled me when the Odyssey crashed and you landed at the Ruined Kingdom. I thought that was the moment we would get a dedicated Boo Kingdom but that was not to be. So, for the sequel, please give that to us. I want a full-fledged haunted ghost house that you can deeply explore. And, of course, Boo needs to be an enemy you can capture.

Yes, there is a Boo power-up in Super Mario Galaxy but its appearances were scarce. This is not a logical reason to avoid adding him in the sequel as Nintendo has repeated power-ups for decades.

Change: The 2D Sections

Let’s get one thing straight; I utterly adore the 2D, old-school 8-bit sections that are present in the first entry. This was one of the best surprises for me when I first played it. I am simply suggesting expanding them into something greater.

Imagine this, you are warped into a 2D section and you notice that the sprites resemble a different classic Mario game. You notice they look like Super Mario World sprites! Given how that is my favorite video game of all-time, you can see the appeal for me. It could be more difficult to pull this off, but the payoff would be legendary.

Honestly, I could ramble for hours and hours on this topic, but it could all be in vain. With all the rumors that have been circling the web regarding the next proper Nintendo Direct, I just hope that we can finally get confirmation that Super Mario Odyssey 2 is actually happening.

However, time moves quickly and it has already been over two long years since the game released to gamers around the globe. With the Switch still clicking on all cylinders, could it be time for a massive sequel that I and millions of other people are craving? Personally, I strongly believe that Super Mario Odyssey 2 is in development and here is why.

The First Was a Massive Success

Both critically and commercially, no one can deny that Super Mario Odyssey was a smashing hit. It remains one of the highest-selling Switch games to this day and has garnered critical acclaim from several media outlets. It is currently my third favorite Mario game that has ever been made (just behind Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario World).

So, from the eyes of Nintendo, there is no question that a sequel would again be a success. When it comes to sales, the red plumber never ceases to disappoint (generally speaking) and this is something that Nintendo is fully aware of.

Super Mario Galaxy 2

Wait, what does Super Mario Galaxy 2 have to do with this post, you may be thinking? Listen closely, my friends, as it means everything. In 2007, Nintendo released Super Mario Galaxy to virtually the same success that Super Mario Odyssey garnered. Just two-and-a-half years later, they released the direct sequel.

What this means is they have followed up a highly successful 3D Mario game with a sequel in the past. More exciting is the fact that the gap between those two games would slate Super Mario Odyssey 2 in the late spring of this year. While I have full confidence it will not release that early (as Nintendo still has not even confirmed that they are working on it), it could still launch this year.

The First Has Received No Major DLC

For the record, I do not consider the minor updates (such as the addition of “Luigi’s Balloon World” and various costumes) that have been released in the past to be DLC. Since its release, there has been little to no extra content added. Even “Luigi’s Balloon World” offers very little in the form of replay value (at least for me, others may feel differently).

The theory behind this is that Nintendo was merely saving all of their kingdom ideas (and various other concepts) for the sequel. In this day and age, it is rather rare for DLC to be absent from major first-party titles. Sure, previous mainline Mario games never received any major DLC but that was in the past.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 is Happening

Zelda and Mario are the big boy franchises for Nintendo and they have always been linked (no pun intended) in some way. At E3 2019, it was confirmed that the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was in development. This can only be good news for us Mario fans.

Along with Super Mario Odyssey, this Zelda game is one of the Switch’s top sellers. And, better yet, both of these games launched in the same year that the Switch did (2017). It just seems poetic to then have both of the follow-ups be released in the same year (whether that is 2020 or beyond).

Look, all that I rattled off is simply speculation as there has been no confirmation (as of this writing) that Super Mario Odyssey 2 is even going to be a thing. Hopefully, it will be unveiled during the next major Nintendo Direct but we can only hope.